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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Yes, I know I’ve written about this book before, but it’s really grabbed my attention, and will probably be the first and only book in this vein that I shall read (for one, there are far too many now published, and secondly I just don’t have the time). Orbit US recently posted the video for the book-trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, so I thought I’d share it on here. So without further ado…

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Heart of the World is a land in strife. For fifty years the Holy Empire of Mann, an empire and religion born from a nihilistic urban cult, has been conquering nation after nation. Their leader, Holy Matriarch Sasheen, ruthlessly maintains control through her Diplomats, priests trained as subtle predators.

The Mercian Free Ports are the only confederacy yet to fall. Their only land link to the southern continent, a long and narrow isthmus, is protected by the city of Bar-Khos. For ten years now, the great southern walls of Bar-Khos have been besieged by the Imperial Fourth Army.

Ash is a member of an elite group of assassins, the Rōshun, who offer protection through the threat of vendetta. Forced by his ailing health to take on an apprentice, he chooses Nico, a young man living in the besieged city of Bar-Khos. At the time, Nico is hungry, desperate, and alone in a city that finds itself teetering on the brink.

When the Holy Matriarch’s son deliberately murders a woman under the protection of the Rōshun; he forces the sect to seek his life in retribution. As Ash and his young apprentice set out to fulfil the Rōshun orders – their journey takes them into the heart of the conflict between the Empire and the Free Ports… into bloodshed and death.

The quality of Buchanan’s writing is nearly peerless. He writes almost as well as long-established authors like Kevin J. Anderson (indeed, Farlander reminded me of Anderson’s The Edge of the World), and certainly matches up to the new breed of top fantasy authors such as Scott Lynch.

Buchanan’s true gift is his ability to give each of his protagonists a unique voice, while retaining a cohesion and flow to the novel. While certain characters’ perspectives need a change of pace (specifically Kirkus, as his world needs a lot more explanation and detail), there’s little negative effect on the flow of the novel. To be fair, Nico’s training at the mountain retreat of the Rōshun is not exactly breathless, but the personal rivalries and internal politics are well-presented and interestingly portrayed (this is true also for the Mannians). The development of the relationship between Nico and Ash is interesting; at times, Ash acts aloof and cold towards his apprentice, while at others he treats him almost like a son (for example, when he tries to teach Nico how to read poetry).

The Holy Order of Mann (the oppressive imperialists in this world), the antagonists of the novel, are brutal and depraved religious fanatics. They worship the flesh, take part in plenty of taboo acts, and there’s a certain psycho-sexual component to their violence. This certainly comes across in the first proper introduction to the sect and Kirkus, as he tours the Empire. Their violent entrance to Skara-Brae (a city that is already compliant with the Order), and again in the Governor’s mansion – which leads to the unfortunate death of the Rōshun’s protectee. For some reason, they remind me of the Persian’s in Frank Miller’s 300. The Holy Order also inform Ash’s worldview, and his negative opinion on the effects of religion, which he lays out for Nico, in Q’os:

“It is our way in this world… to pretend that our beliefs mean everything to us. But wars are seldom fought over beliefs. Wars are fought for land and spoils, for prestige, for foolishness. They are fought because one side wishes dominion over another… The Mannians are no different, despite appearances. Dominion is their deepest creed. At heart, they desire to rule all things.” [p.249]

The followers of Mann, indulgent and vulgar, are the polar opposite to the Rōshun, who are warrior-monks with an almost Buddhist calm about them (despite their role as executors of vendetta), focussed as much on the art of stillness as they are the art of the blade and clean kill, taught compassion as well as death.

This year there have been a surprising number of “hot-tipped” new authors. Mr Buchanan is one of these authors, and while many of them have been pretty good, he might just be the first I’ve considered great: he doesn’t fall for cringe-worthy fantasy clichés and tropes, you feel quickly at home in this new world, and you will grow to care for his characters, which are drawn from a diverse and well-rounded and -realised cast. Not everyone’s motives are clear-cut, and Buchanan sometimes throws in bluffs and double-bluffs to keep us guessing for a while (as in the case of Ché).

To be honest, this is a really difficult review to write. I started to love this novel very quickly, finding myself swept up by Buchanan’s prose and the story, becoming immersed in the tale each and every time I picked up the book (it was only due to other commitments that I didn’t read this in one or two sittings). It’s not the fastest novel (the murder mentioned above happens just under half way through the novel, for example), with events unfolding calmly and without too much haste, but you will certainly find yourself sinking into the narrative as Nico’s new life as an apprentice Rōshun and Kirkus’s life as heir apparent to the Mann Empire, along with all this entails, unfold on the pages before you.

If you are a fan of fantasy, then Farlander is a novel you should go out immediately and buy. Gripping, decent action, and an inspiring new talent, Farlander is the beginning of something special.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Two upcoming Harry Dresden books, and the continuation of the Codex Alera from fan-favourite, Jim Butcher.

On March 18th, Orbit will release the paperback edition of Turn Coat, the 11th novel in the Dresden Files series. Emma reviewed the hardback for us earlier in the year (review re-published below), but we thought we’d use the opportunity of the paperback release to bring you a quick update on Butcher’s releases for the near future. The 12th book in the series, Changes will be released in April 2010 (artwork, left). Here’s the blurb:

I answered the phone, no big deal, until I heard the message: “They've taken our daughter.”

Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has never faced anything like this. Arianna Ortega, Red Court vampire, blames Harry for her husband’s death - and she’s out for revenge. So her discovery that Susan Rodriguez had borne Harry a daughter was an unexpected gift. Arianna’s next step was to kidnap the girl and she plans to use her blood in a violent ritual sacrifice designed to kill Harry, Susan and their daughter.

With the White Council of Wizards and the Red Court in a state of detente, Harry finds himself alone except for a handful of allies - resources utterly inadequate to challenging the Red King and his entire vampire Court. With the life of his child at stake, Susan’s humanity hanging in precarious balance and with his own death looming, Dresden must find a new source of strength. In the past, there had always been a line Harry wouldn’t cross, and though dark powers have tempted him time and again, he never gave in.

But then, only his own life was at stake.

In other news, Butcher continues to write his Codex Alera series, which has been well received in both the US and UK. CR reviews of books #1 and #2 can be found here, and here for #3 and #4. The fifth in the series, Princep’s Fury, was released in the UK in December 2009 (review pending), and the sixth book, First Lord’s Fury, will be released in May 2010. Here’s the artwork for them both:

So, a busy year indeed for Mr. Butcher.

All that is left to do is leave you with the review we posted for Turn Coat back in May 2009, tweaked (i.e. new artwork) for the paperback release.

Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has done his best to keep his nose clean where the White Council of Wizards is concerned. Even so, his past misdeeds have cast a constant shadow of suspicion over him in the eyes of the Wardens, those wizards responsible for enforcing the Laws of Magic. Now Dresden finds himself faced with a nightmarish dilemma: Morgan, formerly his chief persecutor among the Wardens, has been wrongly accused of treason against the White Council - and has come to Harry for help. Dresden faces a daunting task: clear Morgan's name while simultaneously hiding him from the Wardens and the supernatural bounty hunters sent to find him, discovering the identity of the true turncoat and, of course, avoiding accusations of treachery of his own. A single mistake may mean that heads - quite literally - will roll. And one of them could be his own…

The latest instalment in the popular Dresden Files is another excellent page-turner from Jim Butcher. Harry is an intensely appealing character: streetwise, powerful, but ultimately flawed. Unlike many other fantasy writers, Butcher takes pains to emphasize magic’s limitations. His characters are not all-powerful, and magic is not a series of bangs and flashes capable of solving any problem. In fact, Harry tends to find that magic gets him into difficult situations far more than it gets him out of them.

Even Butcher’s monsters are human: Thomas, Harry’s vampire half-brother, is a fascinatingly complex take on the usual tortured stereotype, while even Morgan, who until now has seemed more like a machine than a human, turns out to have a heart after all. Throw in some clever detecting, Harry’s trigger-happy apprentice Molly, some seriously scary adversaries, good guys that are just as scary as the bad guys, and a finale that sidesteps the happy ending for one that is both moving and real, and you have another winner in an already strong series.

Butcher reworks traditional folklore and fairy-tale creatures, such as Titania and Queen Mab, and stock characters like vampires and werewolves, and makes them all his own. The dialogue is earthy and witty, the action fast-paced and the writing atmospheric and gripping.

This fantasy is not for the faint-hearted, but if you like genuine crime thrillers with supernatural chills, wisecracking wizards and a real sense of darkness, Turn Coat comes highly recommended.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

When Horus the Warmaster rebelled against the Emperor, the ensuing civil war nearly destroyed the Imperium. War raged across galaxy, pitting Astartes against their battle-brothers in a struggle where death was the only victor.

This collection features stories of heroism and tragedy set during this turbulent time, by Black Library’s star authors Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill, James Swallow, Mike Lee, Anthony Reynolds, Gav Thorpe, and Matthew Farrer

Black Library’s Horus Heresy series has been a huge success, adding extra layers of detail and understanding to the background of Games Workshop’s popular table-top wargaming universe. Up until now, there have been nine novels in the series, but Tales of Heresy offers up seven short stories that take a look at less grand vistas of the time. For example, Dan Abnett’s opener, “Blood Games”, introduces us to the Custodes, the elite guardians of the Emperor and his palace on Terra. This story was pretty good, and featured Abnett’s breathless action-writing as we have come to expect it. However, given the short length, and the amount that is packed in, it felt rushed (three missions are covered in just 50 pages) and there wasn’t the space for the author to flesh out his characters (something he is very good at in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series).

The other stories in this volume are a mixed bag, providing some innovative approaches to the age. There are three tales of expeditionary forces from three Space Marine legions, two loyalist and one that would eventually turn to Chaos: Mike Lee’s “Wolf at the Door” covers the Space Wolves and a mission to a newly discovered planet (it should also help whet people’s appetites for Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons and Dan Abnett’s Prospero Burns, which will feature the Space Wolves); Anthony Reynolds writes from the perspective of the Word Bearers in “Scions of the Storm”, as they assault an enemy bastion. Gav Thorpe’s “Call of the Lion” covers a Dark Angels attempt to being a world into compliance with the new Imperium edicts.

The remaining three stories are the ones that grabbed my attention more because of their different approach and content. “After Desh’Ea”, by Matthew Farrer (the last story in the anthology), follows the days after the discovery/reunion with the World Eaters (then known as the War Hounds) primarch, the somewhat psychotic Angron, and his integration into the rigid structure of an Astartes Legion after growing up on a savage world of battle. James Swallow’s “The Voice”, is about a group of Sisters of Silence and their hunt for a missing Black Ship (effectively Imperial prison ships for the Chaos tainted and newly found psychics).

Finally, the most interesting story in the book, “The Last Church” by Graham McNeill. This last story is very topical, as a priest is confronted by a secularist, who introduces himself as ‘Revelation’, asking questions of the priest, about

“what keeps you here when the world is abandoning beliefs in gods and divinity in the face of the advances of science and reason.”

For the chosen forum to ask such questions, McNeill has done a good job of writing an intelligent, interesting dialogue on the place of religion in modern society and life. Some of the observations aren’t new, such as Revelation’s point, “Politics has slain its thousands, yes, but religion has slain its millions”. Definitely a nice surprise to find it in this volume. The story also contains perhaps the only honest appraisal of what the Emperor’s grand vision, painting a picture of such narrow-minded arrogance and self-belief. (Like some other reviewers, I think “The Last Church” would have worked better as the last story in the anthology, much more powerful is its content and message, not to mention the strength of the McNeill’s writing.)

Overall, I would say that, if you’ve been following the Horus Heresy series, or are a fan of the Warhammer 40,000, then you will probably like some, if not all, of the stories within. The stories are all pretty good, some clearly better than others, but if nothing else, they’re really handy time-fillers if you can’t decide on what to read/review next (this is how I ended up reading them).

Monday, February 15, 2010

I actually can’t remember from where I first heard of this book (which is disappointing, as it was today, and within the last couple of hours…), but I thought it looked interesting enough that I should make people aware of it:

Seth Grahame-Smith also authored the phenomenally successful Pride & Prejudice and Zombies, which continues to sell extremely well here in the UK (though I’ve never read it, for some reason). Here’s the blurb for his latest alternative take:

The facts included are: for over 250 years, between 1607 and 1865, vampires thrived in the shadows of America. Few humans believed in them; Abraham Lincoln was the most gifted vampire hunter of his day, and kept a secret journal about his war against them; and rumours of the journal's existence have long been a favourite topic among historians and Lincoln biographers. Most dismiss it as myth.

Through the extraordinary discovery of Abraham Lincoln's previously unknown and long lost journals, Seth Grahame-Smith brings to life the Great Emancipator's untold history – his lifelong pursuit of the immortal undead. With unparalleled daring, Seth re-writes Abraham Lincoln's biography to include this significant and gory piece of US history.

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" features all the detail, colour, and readability of Team of Rivals - Barack Obama's favourite book and the number one bestselling Lincoln biography - with only some of the historical accuracy (and thrilling new scenes of vampire combat). From Lincoln's frontier childhood to his assassination, this richly re-imagined history gives new meaning to the moments of an already incredible life.

Those of you familiar with the non-fiction Civilian Reader will know that I have a particular interest in the US Presidency and the men who occupied the office. Couple this with my interest in vampires, and this could be a very interesting book indeed. I shall endeavour to get a review done for it.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is published in April 2010, by Constable Books, and can be pre-ordered here (UK).

Book One of The Inheritance Trilogy, this is one of 2010’s most hotly-tipped fantasy debuts

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky - a palace above the clouds where gods’ and mortals’ lives are intertwined. There, to her shock, Yeine is named one of the potential heirs to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had.

As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history. But it’s not just mortals who have secrets worth hiding and Yeine will learn how perilous the world can be when love and hate, gods and mortals, are bound inseparably.

Set exclusively among the upper strata of life in this world, we follow Yeine’s experiences at Sky, as she navigates the politics and intrigue that plague and animate the high-born Arameri. As a protagonist, I must say I was very happy with Yeine – she wasn’t weak, but neither was she unnecessarily/unbelievably tough for a woman. She was wholly believable, and didn’t break down into tears at the drop of a hat (something that all-too frequently afflicts female characters in all genres of fiction).

The novel is populated by interesting characters, well-drawn by Jemisin’s evocative writing. Scimina, the manipulative, Machiavellian power-seeker; Relad, the weaker of Yeine’s cousins, wanting just to stay alive; Dekarta, the ailing and tricky high lord of the family.

I really enjoyed this novel. The author has created an intriguing world, with twisted politics and complex characters and a detailed, varied society. The interaction between the Arameri and their captive gods is especially interesting, and I was sorry when the novel ended, as I wanted to explore this for longer. Yeine is never able to be sure if they are being truthful or toying with her, doing her bidding or twisting her words and commands to their own ends. The gods’ treatment from those they serve is harsh and demeaning, and Jemisin has managed to convey the anger, anguish and thirst for revenge extremely well in, particularly, Nahadoth, the Nighlord – forced to serve the Arameri, despite their intense hatred for them. There is plenty of intelligent commentary on racial and societal issues, as well as an interesting depiction of what could happen if the basest elements of human nature were allowed to harness the power of the gods.

If I have one complaint about this novel, it is Jemisin’s over-reliance on jumping about in the story. The first couple of chapters are all over the place, chopping and changing – forwards, backwards, description, narrative – making it a rather difficult novel to get sucked into from the start. I understand why she did this, as it does an excellent job of conveying Yeine’s own confusion at being thrust into the world of the Arameri. It’s not too big a deal, but it happens a couple of times through the novel, where Jemisin’s plot has drawn you in, her prose dragging you along, only to disrupt the flow by dropping back to an event that could have easily been properly integrated into the narrative at it’s proper moment. It’s a minor quibble, but it was noticeable enough to warrant mentioning. It’s almost as if Jemisin, at times, suffers from a type of authorial-ADHD…

On the whole, Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is an excellent novel. Considering it is the first in a trilogy, I was surprised by the ending, as it does a good job of closing the story. From the included interview at the back of the book, there are hints of where the story will go (sounds very intriguing), as the next novel will focus on the other, different strata of society. It is difficult to go deeper into the plot without spoiling the story and revelations sprinkled throughout the novel. Needless to say, this is a novel that brilliantly weaves the themes of revenge, patience, justice, love, and power into an original fantasy setting that will hook you until the end, and leave you wanting more. Yes, there is the necessary world-building exposition, but Jemisin is able to make this interesting throughout (particularly the history of the gods), even if it does occasionally interrupt the flow of the story.

A highly recommended read, I would just warn you of the strange and choppy opening chapters. If you make your way through them, however, you will be rewarded with one of the most captivating new voices in fantasy. I eagerly await the next novel in the trilogy.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that his niece, Caroline, has been found brutally murdered. Cross vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that Caroline was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes; linked to a modern-day Hellfire Club where your every desire is available (at a steep price).

And she was not this killer's only victim. The hunt for her murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and his partner, Bree, are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain - they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.

As Cross closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable - a revelation that could rock the entire world as, for perhaps the first time, a serial killer might have ties to the White House.

Reading and reviewing James Patterson’s novels these days can go either way. One possibility is that you’ll be entertained and enjoy every minute of it. The other possibility is that you won’t be able to stand the ordeal of reading the novel. With I, Alex Cross, however, Patterson has managed to find the middle ground, with an uneasy balance of fast-paced serial killer-chasing action and slow personal “angst”.

There are parts of this novel that are as gripping as you might expect from such a successful author, as his pacing and prose pull you along for the ride and with the case. The hunt for the serial killers, and the political scandal, corruption and intrigue that goes hand-in-hand with Cross’s investigation are gripping, entertaining and very good. You find yourself wanting Cross to charge out, guns blazing, as he hunts down Caroline’s killer, the mysterious “Zeus”. The characters in the main story are interesting and pretty well created, if standard Patterson-fare.

The side story, involving Cross’s beloved grandmother’s illness, and the impact it has on Cross and his family, is completely boring and totally predictable. The pace of the novel drops precipitously whenever Cross goes back to be with his family. As always, Patterson is clearly trying to make Cross’s family life a juxtaposition to his work life. But, unfortunately (and by now predictably) the author pours on so much schmaltz, with almost every character over-emoting and crying at the drop of a hat, that you just can’t help but not care. Or skim-read these sections, which is what I ended up doing. If this had been written in an earlier novel in the series, I’m sure I would have cared a great deal more. But now I just don’t.

If Patterson had focused more on the actual case that forms the premise of the novel, and the implications of Cross’s investigation (there are some novel developments that I was intrigued by), and less on the family, this would have been a Patterson novel of much higher quality, and one that I probably would have read much quicker and more towards the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be.

It might also be pointed out that the US cover is misleading – it states that a “beloved” member of the Cross family is killed, when really Alex knows basically nothing about Caroline.

Patterson’s Cross novels have been a favourite of mine for years, ever since I picked up a copy of Violets Are Blue while in Japan. I read as many as I could get my hands on, and have read every one since. The quality is in noticeable decline, however, and I’m not so sure I’ll rush out to read the next one. I have Alex Cross’s Trial, which was co-authored with Richard Dilallo, but I’m not finding myself in any hurry to get to it.

Patterson has done better, but a long time ago. Anything in this series after Four Blind Mice has a noticeable drop in quality, while everything before it is of superior quality. I, Alex Cross will still entertain, and there’s plenty of good content in here (and it’s certainly better than the shelves of co-authored books he produces these days). Gripping in places, only to be disrupted by unwanted and unnecessary over-emoting. If you like fast paced thrillers, then certainly pick this up.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

This is just another excuse to let you know of some upcoming Angry Robot releases, and also to show you some more gorgeous cover artwork. I guess it’s kind of weird that many bloggers do this, considering the old warning to not judge a book by its cover, but still… These are just too cool.

First up, we have two covers from Maurice Broaddus: King Maker and Kings Justice. The former already has a proper book-cover done (left), while for the latter we’ve only got the general piece of art available (all found on Angry Robot’s own website). King Maker is described as:

On the streets of Indianapolis, the ancient Arthurian cycle is replaying in the lives of rival street gangs. Told through the eyes of King, as he gathers like-minded friends and warriors around him to venture into the fastness of Dred, the notorious crime lord, this is a stunning mix of myth and harsh reality.

Here’s the artwork for both:

Another upcoming release from the publisher is Ian Whates debut novel, City of Dreams and Nightmare. The publisher’s blurn for the novel, which I am really looking forward to, is below (along with cover artwork):

They call it the City of a Hundred Rows. The ancient city of Thaiburley is a vast, multi-tiered metropolis, where the poor live in the City Below and demons are said to dwell in the Upper Heights.

Having witnessed a murder in a part of the city he should never have been in, Tom, a lowly street-nick, has to run for his life through the City Below, Thaiburley’s unsavoury basement world. Accused of committing the murder himself, he is pursued by sky-borne assassins, Kite Guards, and agents of a darker force intent on destabilising the whole city. His only ally is Kat, a renegade like him, but she proves to have secrets of her own…

Finally, the artwork that will go into making the cover for Dan Abnett’s next Angry Robot release, Embedded (this is a stunner):

We promise to get round to some more Angry Robot reviews, as soon as we make a dent in the current pile of books. There are a lot of excellent ones coming up in the next couple of months, so keep an eye out on here and twitter for updates.